Tillage crops forum to provide vital data to grain growers for 2010

WEATHER and price-related difficulties have combined to make 2009 a difficult year for grain growers, according to Teagasc, which will hold its National Tillage Crops Forum in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on Tuesday.

Speakers from Teagasc, banking, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the grain trade will provide vital information to growers and merchants to plan the 2010 growing season.

Decisions for the 2010 cropping programme have to be made in the next couple of weeks despite the fact that close to half of the 2009 grain crop still remains to be harvested.

The forum will address market prospects and critical financial and technical issues required to make crucial decisions before the start of the 2010 sowing season.

Jim O’Mahony, Teagasc programme manager for tillage and energy crops, indicated that cereal growers have been dealt a number of devastating blows this year. These include escalating fertiliser and fuel costs, wet and difficult harvest weather and a collapse in grain prices

He said the financial consequences of the harvest of 2009 will have serious implications for growers’ incomes and financing the business.

The tillage forum will make technical and financial information available before key decisions are made.

Topics covered will include market prospects and grain marketing strategies to reduce risks from volatile market prices.